Starting April 3, people in southwest Florida will feel the squeeze on water use. The Southwest Florida Water Management (SWFLWM) District’s board just clamped down harder as drought conditions drag on. This won’t be a gentle nudge anymore, with officials saying the days of warnings are over. Get caught breaking the rules on watering hours, and your local government can hit you with a citation, no questions asked.
The district’s moving ahead with Phase III of its Water Shortage Plan. The changes hit both residents and businesses. Probably the most noticeable: restaurants can only serve water if you ask for it. Outdoor watering is now squeezed into just two windows: midnight to 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight. Anything outside that schedule puts you at risk of an immediate citation.
Michelle Hopkins, who heads the Regulation Division, doesn’t sugarcoat it. “It’s pretty severe,” she said. Even though some drought indicators look a little better, plenty are still below normal. More worrying, public water supply reservoirs are running low.
Every time the district considers new restrictions, it looks at a range of factors to protect the long-term water supply. The goal isn’t just to get through this drought, but to help reservoirs bounce back before the next dry season. “We want to be ready with a full system,” Hopkins explained.
These rules cover all counties overseen by the district. For details on what applies in your neighborhood, the district’s website has specifics. Phase III restrictions remain in effect until at least July 1. Go here for more information.
